COMPATIBILITY AND COMPLEXITY IN FARMERS’ ADOPTION OF MODERN IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGIES: EVIDENCE FROM THE UPPER PANGANI RIVER BASIN, TANZANIA

Abstract

This study examined the factors influencing the adoption and performance of modern irrigation technologies, with a focus on drip and sprinkler irrigation in the Upper Pangani River Basin, northern Tanzania. A mixed-methods approach was applied, combining questionnaire surveys, semi-structured interviews, field water application trials, and crop yield measurements. Data were collected from 156 smallholder farmers across Lekitatu and Mtakuja irrigation schemes during the 2018 dry season and 2019/2020 rainy season, representing adopters and nonadopters of modern irrigation systems. Additional information was obtained from village offices and grey literature. Experimental plots comparing drip and furrow irrigation were established on tomato fields, with treatments designed to assess the effects of spacing, flow rates, and water application efficiency. Cost–benefit analysis (CBA) was conducted to evaluate profitability, while water use efficiency (WUE), field application efficiency (FAE), and water productivity (WP) were calculated to assess technical performance. Findings indicate that farmer adoption decisions are shaped by perceptions of subsidies, credit access, market availability, and training opportunities. Empirical results show that drip irrigation consistently outperformed furrow irrigation in terms of crop yield, revenue, WUE, and WP, though high initial investment costs constrained profitability in the short term. Sprinkler irrigation also proved superior to furrow irrigation for maize production. Overall, the study highlights both the agronomic and economic benefits of modern irrigation technologies, while underscoring the need for supportive institutional measures—including targeted subsidies, extension services, and credit access—to overcome adoption barriers and ensure sustainable agricultural intensification